Obajimi, who was at the lying-in-state for the late Bada last week at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos told a local newspaper, P.M. Sports that the untimely death of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games silver medallist is a monumental loss to Nigerian athletics, adding that Bada died a hero.

“We have lost a gem and we will miss Bada forever. The late Bada brought honour to this country and we shall continue to remember him,” she said.

Triple-jump athlete, Otonye Iworima, also described Bada’s death as a great loss to Nigerian athletes.

“He was a mentor and someone who was always there and encouraging us (young and upcoming athletes).

Now that he has gone, it’ll be very hard for the local athletes to see someone who will be there for them now. How I wish the AFN and the government would immortalise him so that he would always be in our mind,” she said.